Category: screenwriter

Thriller movies are a staple of our cinema screens. Let’s explore the most significant ways to write a screenplay in this exciting and popular genre. 1) CAPTIVATION Most thriller movie scripts begin with a mystery that unravels throughout the course of the story. It could be a crime, a clue, an enigma a secret or…

Few main characters can sustain an audience for the full length of a screenplay. Okay, Tom Hanks in Castaway is an exception. Generally speaking, the main characters in your film need other characters around them to help them achieve (or not achieve) their goal. Bring the PIVOT CHARACTERS to the mix. They are often referred…

The scene descriptions in your screenwriting have a tricky, sometimes tumultuous, relationship with script readers. How so, you ask? Some script readers scan through screenplay scene description to speed up their reading process. I’ve spoken to studio level readers who read scene titles and dialogue. This approach tells them the story and gives them an…

I’ve previously written about various extreme characters you can include in your screenplay to create some really interesting stories. These range from simple liars, to the delusional, to the dark villains. Extreme characters make for highly engaging films, especially in the horror, drama and thriller genres. You can really put your psychology to work in…

There is a term bandied around TV writers rooms called the ENGINE. What exactly is the engine of a TV show? As its name suggests, the simplest way to describe your story engine, is to define what drives every episode in the series. The engine is the nerve center of your TV series. It defines…

Let’s get into some deep character work here to make your screenplays really stand out. Every screenwriter understands the concept of morality. It is an internal guidance systems that shapes your characters life direction. Everyone has an internal moral compass which drives their beliefs and actions. This helps screenwriters define their characters as either GOOD or BAD….

The screenwriting journey for both your main characters and your audience should be filled with twists and turns; ups and downs. Screenwriters are taught to raise the stakes for their characters to create excitement, tension, intrigue and anxiety. This is more than simply putting multiple obstacles in the path of the main characters in your…

The main character in screenwriting is often referred to as the hero. They differ from the main characters or protagonist in a film, because they must display great strength and courage to battle intense danger. They are more than fighters who battle the bad guys. They are selfless warriors who play the long game. Traditional Heroes…

You’ve finished your screenplay and you’re ready to organize a table read. Good for you. You’re taking your screenwriting to the next level. What do you need to do to organize a live table read? FIND A SPACE Don’t do this in a public space like a cafe or a train station. Find a quiet…

You’ve written a draft of your screenplay. It’s time for some constructive feedback. The simplest route is to show it to a few other screenwriters and get verbal or written comments. Table reads are another effective way to evaluate the strength of your screenwriting from actors and an audience.

It is no secret that the majority of film and television screens are still filled with white actors and most screenplays are still penned by white, middle-class males. Is this dominant mono-culture as large an issue as claimed by various diversity pundits? Workplace diversity is broadly defined in terms of gender, race, cultural background, sexual orientation,…